About JDS Project

Are You Interested in Studying in Japan?
Here We Offer a Great Program for You!

The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) , funded by the Government of Japan, is now accepting applications from government sector workers who wish to obtain a Master’s degree from Japanese Universities, starting from the 2024 academic year. The courses will be taught in English and will take two years for Fellows enrolled as Master’s students. The total number of participants from Ghana will be 12 Master’s students per year.

The Japanese Government is offering the JDS Scholarship Program to government officials in Ghana as a way of providing them with opportunities for academic research at Japanese graduate schools.

The JDS Scholarship program targets primarily, highly capable young government officers who are expected to engage in formulating and implementing social and economic development plans and to become leaders of Ghana in the 21st century.

Follow -up Seminar Schedule

Eligibility

Who is Eligible?

1. Nationality: Applicants must be citizens of Ghana.
2. Age: Up to 41 years old as of 1^st April, 2024.
3. Academic background: Bachelor’s Degree or above
4. Working Experience:
   • at least 3 years of work experience as a full-time public servant.
   • at least 4 years of work experience as a full-time staff before departure for Japan for civil servants, and LGS.
   • at least 4 years of work experience as a full-time staff before the deadline for submission of application for Bank of Ghana and GRA.
   • at least 4 years of work experience as a full-time staff after receiving Bachelor’s degree for departure for Japan for Ghana Health Service.
5. Taget Organizations: MOF, BOG, GRA, NDPC, GSS, MFARI, MoTI, GIPC, MLGDRD, OHCS, LGS, MRH, MOJ, MOCD, Ministry of National Security, MESTI, MOH, MINTER, GHS, MOFA, MOEn, MoGCSP, MLNR, GIS, Office of the President
6. Applicants must have strong willingness to work for the development of Ghana on their return home.
7. Applicants must be in good health both mentally and physically.
8. Applicants must have proficiency in English sufficiently fluent for studying in Japan.

Who is ineligible?

1. Persons who are currently receiving, planning to receive or who have previously acquired a master’s degree after studying abroad on a scholarship awarded through other foreign assistance are ineligible.

Fields of study, target organizations and corresponding graduate schools

Selection Process

List of universities

How to Apply

• Access the online application system from the JDS Ghana Official Website (https://scholarship.jds21.com/) and submit the application documents online before 0:00 am 23rd November 2023. Please refer to the Application Guidelines during completion and ensure submission of a full set of application documents.
   
• Send Prescribed Form 2 to the HR Director as a Referee. The Referee must send it directly to the JDS Office (ghana.jds@gmail.com) via email or give it to the applicant in a signed and sealed envelope with the organisational stamp. Prescribed Form 2 sent by the applicant via email will NOT be accepted.
   
• Submit hard copies of the following documents to the JDS Ghana Project Office one week after the deadline of applications. You may send them by bus transport/courier. (Kobe U, IUJ, Ritsumeikan U, ICU.)
  • Certified copy of your degree certificates (bachelor and above)
  • Original or certified copy of your transcripts (bachelor and above)

The application deadline is 22nd November (Wed), 2023.

Application documents will not be returned for any reason. Late submission and/or incomplete application documents will NOT be accepted.

B. Application Documents

1. 1Research proposal: Type in the space provided a brief proposal outlining your research plan (no more than 700 words). ● Optionally, you can upload a pdf file with no more than 700 words, 3 pages maximum.
2. Reference form from HR director
   download:Word PDF
   • To be completed by the Director, Human Resource.
   • The Referee must send it directly to the JDS Office (ghana.jds@gmail.com) via email or give it to the applicant in a signed and sealed envelope with the organisational stamp
3. The *certified copy of your “Bachelor and above /Certificate of degree”
4. Original or a *certified copy of your “Official Transcript (University-level)”
   *A certified copy which is duly certified by your university or the Commissioner of Oaths.
5. Colored photocopy of your ID: Upload a copy of valid Passport or National ID issued by the National Identification Authority for Ghanaians if you don’t have a passport.
6. Proof of your English language skill (To be completed by officials from your organization which you work for. ie.to be filled by a superior from your organization and stamped with the official seal)
   download:Word PDF
    
   or Certificate of English Proficiency from University (For Kobe U. & Ritsumeikan U.)
   ●　You do not need to submit ‘Proof of your English language skill’ if you hold a Bachelor’s degree from a university in the US, Canada, UK, or Australia; or (2) if you submit a Colour-Photocopy of your English language test score (TOEFL, TOEIC, or IELTS) undertaken within the past two years. (Kobe University and Ritsumeikan University)
7. Photocopy of Appointment letter

NB: Please access the Online application portal from the JDS Ghana Official Website.

How to Prepare Your Research Plan

How to write good research plan

Before you begin writing your research plan, you are advised to carefully review the ‘Graduate School Information‘ section to make sure that the graduate school of your choice offers an appropriate curriculum and has faculty members relevant to your research plan. You can obtain more information by visiting the websites of individual graduate schools or by visiting the JDS Project Office.

NOTE: Your research plan should be consistent with one of the aforementioned ‘Sub-Program’

(Target Priority Area) and ‘Component’ (development issues), should be a program offered by the graduate school of your application and correspond to the overall objectives of the organization to which you belong. For more information, please refer to the Application Guidelines.

How to Prepare for Math Exam

(Kobe University, IUJ and Nagasaki University)
Math Examination Date: 29^th November (Wed), 2023

The duration of the math examination is approximately 60 minutes and consists of basic math: arithmetic operations, solving fractions, equations, inequalities, matrixes, basic quadratic functions, basic operations of exponential and logarithmic functions, basic integral and differentiation, etc.

Exam scores will be used for reference purposes during initial selection by the accepting universities. Please prepare yourself for the exams!

Math past question

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

• Qualifications
• Applications
• Life in Japan

If you need further information or wish to make an inquiry, please contact our JDS Project Office in Ghana (Tel: 059-651-7785 / 020-926-5121).

• Qualifications

  Q. Who is eligible to apply to JDS Program?

  A. Regarding the eligibility, please refer to page 9 of Application Guidelines.

  Q. Do I need to take English and Math examinations?

  A. Math exam is required for applicants for Kobe, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Kyushu University. On the other hand, applicants for Nagoya, Nagasaki and Kyushu University are obliged to take English exam. If you have taken an IELTS within the last 2 years and can submit the official copy of your score record, you do not need to take it again. However, there is no exception for the math exam. The problems in the math exam will be those you have learned at junior-high and high schools.

  Q. How about GPA score?

  A. We do not have any borderline for GPA score.

  Q. I am a Master’s Degree holder. Can I apply?

  A. Yes, you may apply except the case you obtained your Master’s degree funded through other foreign assistance.

  Q. I have received a scholarship from another country. Can I apply to JDS?

  A. No. If you have ever received (or planning to receive) another scholarship through other foreign assistance, you are NOT eligible to apply. Likewise, if you have already had your master’s degree, sponsored through other foreign assistance, you are also NOT eligible to apply.

  Q. I don’t speak Japanese. Can I apply to JDS?

  A. Yes, you can. In the Japanese Universities selected for JDS Program, all courses are taught in English.

  Q. Does JDS Program fund me for PhD course as well?

  A. ’Yes, there’s 1 slot available each year for JDS Program alumni. Contact JDS Project office for details.

• Applications

  Q. I graduated from 2 universities, which university degree should I submit?

  A. You should submit the certified copies of the Degrees from both universities in that case.

  Q. My University does not give my official transcript directly to me. What should I do?

  A. Please ask your university to send the transcript directly to our JDS Office. You also need to let us know that the transcript will be sent to our JDS Office later on.

  Q. How do I prepare the research plan?

  A. Please carefully read the instructions written in the Guidelines as well as the instructions written in the Form of a Research Plan. JDS staff members will also guide you on how to prepare the research plan upon your request.

  Q. I only have diploma. Am I eligible to apply?

  A. No. You must possess at least a university degree in order to apply.

  Q. How do I know if I passed the process of document screening or not? Can I call JDS Office and ask?

  A. All applicants who passed or did not pass the screening will be informed by JDS Office. Any inquiries for the result of the selection by applicants are NOT allowed.

  Q. Can I have my application documents back if I do not pass the selection?

  A. No. all application documents will not be returned.

  Q. I am planning to apply for another scholarship. Can I apply for both scholarships?

  A. No. This is grant aid’s scholarship. You can’t apply for several scholarships. You have to choose one scholarship only.

• Life in Japan

  Q. If I were selected for JDS Scholarship Program, what allowance will I receive?

  A. As to the allowance you will receive in Japan, please refer to page 13 of Application Guidelines.

  Q. Is it okay to bring my dependents and stay with them in Japan?

  A. Yes, you can stay with your dependents (spouse/children) in Japan, but only after 3 months from your arrival in Japan unless your university prohibits you from doing so. All the procedures required you to do for your dependents’ stay in Japan shall be carried out by yourselves. JDS Program will not cover the cost necessary for your families: e.g. travel insurance, air ticket, living cost, and VISA. Your Family will be taken care of under your responsibility.

  Q. Can I work in Japan?

  A. No, you are not allowed to have any job or work for a living. However, the teaching or research assistantship which is provided by your Accepting University is exceptional.

  Q. Can I drive automobiles in Japan?

  A. No. You are not permitted to drive cars or motorcycles unless there is any special reason which was permitted by the JDS Operation Committee.

  Q. Can I stay in Japan after the completion of Master’s program in order to continue my education or be employed in Japan?

  A. No, you cannot. You MUST return to Ghana after obtaining Master’s degree through JDS Scholarship Program.

  Q. Can I come back to Ghana or travel overseas for short-term while I am staying in Japan?

  A. Yes, you may come back to Ghana at your own expense and must ensure that it doesn’t impact your academic work negatively. If you travel overseas for any reason other than thesis research purpose, your scholarship will be suspended from the day of departure from Japan until the day of return in case of private travel. The scholarship will be paid up to 60 days in the case of the thesis research.

  Q. Please tell me about university support system.

  A. It depends on the university which you enroll. Normally, teaching assistant/s and tutor/s will support your studies and academic life.

Contact

JDS Project Office in Ghana

Address: Room 4 & 5, Ground Floor, Annex Building, at Office of the Head of Civil Service, Accra

Tel: 059-651-7785 / 020-926-5121

Email: ghana.jds@gmail.com

Office Hours: Mon to Fri 9:00 to 12:00, 13:00 to 17:00

Website: https://scholarship.jds21.com/ghana